Vintage Variety Ad Has The Star Wars Characters Congratulating E.T.
This article is more than 2 years old
Between the two of them, Steven Spielberg and George Lucas have been responsible for some of the most successful and iconic movies of all time. And while they’ve been professional colleagues for decades, they’re also close friends, and when something awesome happens to close friends, they celebrate that success together. In the case of George Lucas, that means taking out a full-page ad to virtually high five your buddy.
That image is of a 30-year-old Variety ad George Lucas took out to congratulate Spielberg on E.T. The Extra-Terrestrial beating Star Wars in film rentals (click the image for a larger version). It’s a bit more extravagant than the gifts most of us give to our friends, but the principle is the same. And really, what do you buy a 1983-era Steven Spielberg? That gift certificate to The Sharper Image isn’t gonna cut it.
I do question the veracity of that image, though. Sure, I can see Luke, Leia, Han, Chewie, and the droids hanging out together, and I’m sure Yoda and E.T. would have some interesting conversations together. But who invited Vader? How awkward must that have been? You’re trying to talk sports or whatever and then there he is, everybody’s favorite asthmatic buzzkill droning on about “Dark Side” this and “rule the galaxy” that. You just know he’s going to have a few too many drinks and wind up slicing your grandmother’s antique credenza in half with a wayward lightsaber swing. Just awful. And I’m not even going to go into that Jawa he brought as his date.
For some more vintage Star Wars fun, check out this collection of Lucasfilm Christmas cards from over the years.
